Wigan Album

Walk the dog regularly at this spot and its so hard to imagine a station was once there. It floods around here too sometimes.

Dr Beeching should rot in Hell for what he did to the railways.

You should note that the two views are looking in opposite directions, which may not be immediately apparent!

In the top (original) view we are looking towards Amberswood common and Strangeways West Jct. which is just under Liverpool Road overbridge; wheras in the later lower more modern picture, we are looking back towards Strangeways East Jct. Here one could carry straight on along the GC route towards Bickershaw and Abram Stn. and it's associated level crossing on Bickershaw Lane. Alternatively you could fork off to join the LNWR main line from Wigan Springs Branch to Manchester Exchange. Spent many, many happy hours tramping this old line. What a pity previous governments of both political spectrums didn't have more vision and less vested interests in destroying the superb railway system that the Victorians bequethed us!!

I think much of what you're saying is going right over most peoples heads, Dave, they won't have a clue what your talking about.It's good though that there is someone, like yourself, who is interested in how the old railways used to work.
I too have walked the line to see the traces of what was once a working railway with over 40 train workings a day at peak times.

Hindley South Station ,holds many happy memories ,I grew up,close to this station ,during the summer months in the early 50s , on a Saturday around teatime ,returning late evening we could go to Blackpool on this line it was a real treat ,for us kids in those day ,I also spent most of my courting days in the early 60s ,waiting for my boyfriend now (hubby)of 50 yrs coming from Irlam steel works after his 2/10 shift hail rain snow or blow I waited for him getting off that train on Hindley south station ,or if he was going on a nightshift ,waveing him off on the platform ,Saturday nights ,even xmas and newsyears eve , he worked on the blast furnaces at Irlam st/wrks and the place never stopped, it must have been love the waiting I spent on that railway station ,!!!!!!!!!

How can you go to Blackpool when the line terminated at Wigan station rd.